Chapter 5 #2
Theo Hartman grinned. He folded his long, thin arms across his chest and grinned at her.
His black hair was a little tousled by the strong wind, but it fit with the swashbuckling energy he always seemed to have.
Theo was cocky and charming and rough around the edges, just like how Michelle always imagined pirates to be when she read about them in books.
“If it isn’t my nemesis,” Theo said cheerfully.
“Gosh, Michelle, can’t you leave these poor animals alone?
Someone as mean as you shouldn’t be around innocent little creatures.
” His eyes danced as he said it, and everyone knew he was kidding—there was even an implication of how kind Michelle actually was present in his sarcasm.
“Theo, I’m sure if you walk in there right now, the dogs are going to start howling and the cats are going to try to claw their way out of their cages,” Michelle replied serenely.
She felt proud of herself—it was an effortless comeback, and it felt extra satisfying because she’d never been able to think of responses like that when she was a kid.
She and Theo had started their verbal sparring matches during their childhood, but she’d been a shy and soft-spoken child, and hadn’t known how to handle the sassy and vivacious Theo.
He grinned at her, clearly enjoying her retort almost as much as she was. “Stick around and you’ll see that’s a load of nonsense.”
Michelle smiled in spite of herself. Theo’s impish grins were contagious.
When she’d first moved back to Coral Sands, all Michelle could think about was how irritating Theo had been when they were younger.
The first time she’d seen him after arriving in town, she’d felt longstanding indignation bubble in her core.
However, slowly but surely, his teasing had become something she looked forward to.
Their banter now felt fun in a way that made her heart beat faster.
Theo always makes things feel more exciting, she thought with an internal chuckle.
When I first moved here, I did worry a little that after a while, life in Coral Sands would start to feel boring to me.
I definitely don’t worry about that anymore—and I know that’s partially because Theo is always around the corner, ready to keep me on my toes.
Although I’d never admit that to his face.
She realized that Theo’s teasing had actually become something that she enjoyed a great deal. She could just imagine the glare her younger self would have given her if she’d heard those words!
“What brings you in today, Theo?” Harper asked. “You know, besides trying to get the animals to start howling in horror.” She grinned and Michelle gave her a high-five.
“Oh, just—I figured I’d stop in.” Theo cleared his throat.
“Yeah?” Harper asked, her tone becoming slightly suspicious. She glanced between Michelle and Theo a couple of times. “Are you looking to adopt a pet?”
“I wish I could,” Theo said regretfully. “I’m not home enough for that. But, um, a buddy of mine is looking for a dog. So I thought I’d come here and send him pictures for inspiration.”
“That’s great!” Harper’s expression lit up. “We have so many great dogs looking for a home.”
“Ah.” Theo coughed. “Well, see, he lives in Texas. I just—well, I thought I’d send him pictures and it would help inspire him.”
“Oh.” Rather than disappointment, amusement seemed to be Harper’s predominant emotion. “I mean, okay.”
“And—your car!” Theo snapped his fingers for emphasis, but Michelle had a sneaking suspicion that he’d only just thought of what he was saying. “That part came in for your car, Harper. We’ve got it waiting at the auto shop.”
“I mean, that’s great.” Harper smiled, an impish gleam in her eyes. “But you could have texted me that, you know.”
Theo reddened slightly. Michelle began to notice that he seemed to be avoiding eye contact with her, and keeping his face turned somewhat awkwardly toward Harper. “I mean, yeah, but—well, it’s not like I went far out of my way or anything like that,” Theo said. “I just figured I’d stop by.”
“Sure, that’s great.” Harper smiled. “Thanks for letting me know.”
Theo nodded. “Well, I guess I should be going, then.” He turned and started back toward his car.
“Don’t you want to see the dogs and take pictures for your friend in Texas?” Michelle pointed out.
“Right.” Theo spun around slowly in a way that was so goofy it was comical. “I almost forgot.”
“Get ready to cover your ears for when they start howling,” Michelle teased as Theo stepped through the doorway into the main part of the shelter.
He turned around and gave her a look, and she grinned in response.
Rather than howl, the animals all looked delighted to see Theo—even the shyer cats blinked at him pleasantly.
Michelle watched for a moment as Theo crouched down in front of the cage of a pudgy bulldog, who trundled over to snuffle Theo’s hand as if he was his favorite person in the world.
Theo enjoyed the attention of the dog for a moment, and then he whipped his head in Michelle’s direction, a triumphant grin on his face.
“Who’s howling?” his expression seemed to say, and she laughed.
“Well, I’d better go,” Michelle said, realizing she’d been starting at Theo as he pet the dog and snapping out of it. “I want to put away all the things I bought for the hotel today.”
“Mmhmm.” Harper crossed her arms, smirking.
“What?” Michelle asked, feeling herself start to blush although she wasn’t entirely sure why.
“Oh, nothing. It’s just that Theo was suddenly in a hurry to get out of here and now you are too. Coincidence, I guess.”
Michelle wrinkled her nose. “Hey, that man’s mind is a mystery to us all. Why compare his behavior with mine?”
“Maybe.” Harper shrugged. “Don’t you think he’s acting a little funny, though?”
Michelle felt a weird tumbling feeling in her stomach. “What do you mean, funny? And like, yeah—I think he acts funny all the time. I just said that.”
“I just mean I think it’s weird that he stopped over here for no good reason.
I’m pretty sure he totally made up that thing about sending pictures to his friend in Texas.
” Harper leaned against the wall, keeping her voice low so Theo couldn’t hear her.
Michelle doubted he was listening, anyway.
He’d moved on to a Doberman puppy who seemed to love him even more than the bulldog.
“Yeah, that did seem kind of silly.” Michelle forced herself to stop watching the way Theo was kind of dancing as he pet the dog, swaying back and forth quickly almost as if his whole body was wagging the way the dog’s tail was wagging.
He was clearly doing it to make the puppy feel more excited, and Michelle thought it was adorable.
Adorable? No. Theo wasn’t adorable. But he was—well, it was sweet. Dogs could make just about anyone seem sweet.
“And he forgot about it right away.” Harper shook her head, chuckling. “Maybe he had another reason for coming in. Maybe he wants something.”
“You think he wants to adopt a dog after all?”
“Oh, maybe. I’m just thinking, I’m sure he noticed your bright yellow Jeep out there. He must have known you were in here.”
Michelle froze, wanting to look aghast but then in the next second deciding on playing dumb.
To acknowledge what Harper had just implied was absolutely unthinkable.
“What, to tease me? I don’t think he enjoys it all that much.
” Before Harper could respond, Michelle made a show of looking at her watch.
“Well, I’d really better run. Thanks again for the kitten cuddles, Harper!
” She gave the woman another hug, grateful for an opportunity to hide her blushing face for a second.
“Anytime!” Harper replied cheerfully, and as soon as Michelle saw her grin, she knew that the animal shelter owner was still just as suspicious as ever about what had really brought Theo inside.
Waving, Michelle hurried outside, feeling both flustered and as though she wanted to smile like an idiot at the same time. She bit her lip as she walked to her car, wondering if Harper’s theory was worth considering. Had Theo stopped because he saw her car?
He doesn’t like joking with me that much, she thought, feeling her cheeks grow hot. She hopped into her car as quickly as she could so that her face would be hidden from anyone walking by the animal shelter. That’s such a silly idea.
She paused before turning the key in the ignition, smiling and unable to stop. Maybe he had stopped at the shelter because he wanted to talk to her. They were friends, after all, in their strange, playfully antagonistic way.
Well, whatever the reason, it seemed serendipitous that he stopped by, she thought, starting her car. At least the dogs got to see him.
And although she didn’t admit it to herself, she was happy that she’d gotten to see him too.